George Foreman vs Jack Johnson, How competitive would it be?

He could not convincingly beat Marvin Hart... diaper wearing, hillbilly Marvin Hart. He knew the stakes and the conditions upon winning that fight and could not pull it off.

He got cold cocked by lil Joe Choynski and Klondike.

He got schooled in the art of boxing by Philly Jack O'Brien in a TITLE DEFENSE.

He picked on the most pathetic collection of title defense opponents the division has ever witnessed. Old ass, 100 fight vet light heavy Jack O'Brien, the worst challenger for the title in the history of the division, Tony Ross, a set up against hophead middleweight Stanley Ketchell, and a draw against regularly beaten Jim Johnson which was roundly booed as a decision...

He got outlasted and KO'd by a novice farmhand who was almost as old as he was.

This is among the ALL that he accomplished.

 

There's really no way to tell for sure.

 

You are right to say that we should start by asking what tactics Johnson would likley employ.

Johnson tended to get clinch happy against fighters wh perceived to be physicaly weaker than himself such as Burns and Ketchel. It is conspicuouts that he did not try to manhandle Willard, and made greater use of movment agaisnt him.

Foreman is a type of fighter that he would likley see as sitting somwhere between the two. While he might not be stronger than Foeman, he had better stamina, and he would likley look to start clinching more as Foreman started to run out of steam.

 

The Hart fight will remain a debatable decision . Johnson was around the same weight as Choynski when they fought. Johnson was NOT "coldcocked" by Klondike, he was stopped on his feet,[see Pollack's post]. Schooled by O Brien ? Like the Hart bout there are various opinions of this fight , you are very fortunate to have seen both fights ,and be able to give such a definite, and dogmatic opinion of them.
" Old ass O Brien" was the same age as Johnson.atsch
Johnson had been partying into the small hours with two Barbary Coast whores prior to the fight.
Ketchel got the fight with Johnson because he was "qualified". He was the right complexion, blame the good old US public .

The Jim Johnson fight was booed as it happened ,they did not boo the decidsion but the lack of action a small mattter of a broken arm incurred in the 3rd rd accounted for the champions poor showing, that and the fact he had not fought for over a year and a half ,and was 1.Over weight ,and 2 .35 years old.Battling Jim went on to draw with the leading black fighters of his day including Langford ,McVey, and Jeannette, none of them had a broken arm when they drew with Battling Jim , he also beat Cowler, Pelkey, and Tate.
Ross is the worst heavyweight title challenger? Is he?
He was a big punching contender who had stopped Schreck and Gardner . he had Hart on the verge of a ko loss when he threw it away by hitting him when he was down. Ross had 24 wins 20 by ko, he went on to beat Palzer, Kubiak,Moran, Sullivan, and Flynn he was vulnerable, but dangerous ,and most significantly he was WHITE!

You think Ross was a worst challenger than John Finnegan? Jack Munroe? How about some of Wlads recent set ups?
Burns challengers , Squires, Roche,Moir,Smith?



Being out lasted in tropical heat when you are 37 years old and have been fighting for 78 minutes against a trained to the minute giant is not a disgrace in my book, especially when you are in front after 20rds.

Personally I think this is one of Johnson greatest battles.

We obviously have different criteria for judging fighters. You will call these excuses. I call them facts that should be added to the pot when assessing Johnson's performances in those respective fights.

 

Bump..

 

Johnson is over-rated in head-to-head. Foreman would prove it in pulverising fashion.

 

I'd probably put money on Foreman...

...but it would be a total punt.

 

That depends on if you consider Johnson's physical strength comparable with Ali's. Johnson was consistently ragdolling and manhandling fighters the size of George, and often bigger, for his entire career. Ali had some success roughing George up in the clinches, and this played a part in him gassing so quickly. Johnson's clinch game is on a whole other level.

I got Johnson by stoppage between rounds 10-20.

 

I have to agree with this.

 

Imagine Johnson trying to catch one of Foreman’s punches on his glove. No chance. Foreman has every physical advantage. And the viciousness to really hurt Johnson.

 

The press would really ram home their differences pre-fight, too. Foreman an open patriot & Johnson, understandably less so…

 

Its shocking that people were giving Johnson much chance h2h. Realistically nothing on Johnsons resume would give one confidence he beats Foreman.

Roy Jones could probably beat anyone Johnson beat.